Navigation
Related

Marine Stiff Boom Crane
Model 3TX9M

This classic marine crane features a robust, welded steel box-section boom and a versatile hydraulic drive that supports all primary operations: hoisting, outreach adjustment, and slewing.

The crane design provides higher lifting capacity than folding boom and knuckle boom models. It also offers exceptional reliability and minimal maintenance requirements. This solution is optimal for applications where performance is paramount and sufficient operating clearance is available.

Model 3TX9M is designed for handling loads of up to 3 t and features a 9 m boom. Operational flexibility is provided by a local control station or a remote control pendant, connected via cable or radio link.

Configuration

Drag to rotate · Hover over marker

Loading model

0%

Marine Stiff Boom Crane Model 3TX9M 3D Model Boom

Boom

(highlighted in grey-blue)

The robust 9 m stiff boom provides a lifting capacity of up to 3 t. Its reinforced design ensures stable operation with loads of up to 2.6 t even at sea state 2–3.

Column

(highlighted in grey-blue)

The 1500 mm column provides secure mounting via a welded connection to the foundation. Integrated hydraulic equipment ensures stable operation and is protected against temperature variations and corrosion, while the well-engineered arrangement simplifies maintenance.

Marine Stiff Boom Crane Model 3TX9M 3D Model Column
Marine Stiff Boom Crane Model 3TX9M 3D Model Structure Housing

Structure housing

(highlighted in grey-blue)

The 2 m high housing allows for the compact installation of all electrical equipment inside. The design ensures reliable operation in marine environments and provides protection against temperature variations, seawater exposure, and dynamic loads at sea state up to 3.

Luffing hydraulic cylinder

(highlighted in grey-blue)

The 2750 mm hydraulic cylinder ensures smooth luffing with a boom outreach ranging from 1.45 to 9 m. The design ensures reliable operation in marine environments and is resistant to temperature variations, seawater exposure, and salt mist.

Marine Stiff Boom Crane Model 3TX9M 3D Model Luffing Hydraulic Cylinder
Marine Stiff Boom Crane Model 3TX9M 3D Model Winch

Winch

(highlighted in grey-blue)

The hydraulic winch with a rated capacity of 3 t provides hoisting speeds from 2 to 18 m/min, with a rope capacity of 64.5 m (rope diameter 16 mm). Reliability is ensured by two independent brakes, a pressure roller, and a rope payout limit sensor.

Platform

(highlighted in grey-blue)

The platform mounted on the crane structure, equipped with guardrails and a gate, is fitted with a local control station. A remote control pendant with a 10 m cable provides flexible and safe operation.

Marine Stiff Boom Crane Model 3TX9M 3D Model Platform
Marine Stiff Boom Crane Model 3TX9M 3D Model Hook Block

Hook block

(highlighted in grey-blue)

The hook block ensures reliable load handling through a design featuring two side plates connected by threaded studs. The system is equipped with a load hook (safety latch and swivel) and a wire rope thimble.

Slewing system

(highlighted in grey-blue)

The driven slewing system with two independent brakes enables 360° crane rotation. The system ensures secure positioning and reliable load holding. An optional slewing limiter can be installed to adapt the crane to specific operating conditions.

Marine Stiff Boom Crane Model 3TX9M 3D Model Slewing System
Marine Stiff Boom Crane Model 3TX9M 3D Model Floodlight

Floodlight

(highlighted in grey-blue)

The floodlight provides effective illumination of the working area for cargo handling operations.

Electro-hydraulic rotary union

(highlighted in grey-blue)

The electro-hydraulic rotary union, installed inside the crane structure, supplies hydraulic fluid and electrical power from the stationary part of the crane to equipment on the slewing part. This ensures stable operation of all systems during continuous slewing.

Marine Stiff Boom Crane Model 3TX9M 3D Model Electro-Hydraulic Rotary Union

Standard configuration and options

Click for more details

Standard configuration:

  • Column
  • Boom assembly
  • Platforms (set)
  • Winch with wire rope
  • Boom luffing hydraulic cylinder(s)
  • Hook block
  • Hydraulic power unit (HPU)
  • Electrical equipment
  • Hydraulic equipment
  • Local control station

Optional:

  • Cranes may be supplied without a column or with a column height customized to the customer’s requirements
  • Cranes may be supplied with an integrated HPU, a remote HPU, or without an HPU
  • Local (operator cabin or platform), remote (pendant or radio control), or combined control
  • Explosion-proof (tanker) design
  • Man-riding design
  • For explosive cargo handling
  • Auxiliary hoisting winches
  • Heave compensation
  • Floodlights
  • Custom paint color

Documentation:

The following documentation provided with the crane:

DocumentQuantity
Product Data Sheet1
Installation and Operation Manual1
Onboard Test Program and Methodology1
Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) Report1
Spare Parts and Tools List1

3D crane simulation

About

Click to read more

Marine Workhorse: How an Offshore Crane Operates in All Weather Conditions

Picture a port where operations never stop. Massive vessels discharge tons of containers, fishing boats land their catch, and naval craft prepare for departure. At the center of this activity stands a key piece of equipment without which a modern harbor is unthinkable: the offshore crane. But this is far more than just «a boom and a wire rope». It is a highly engineered machine designed to perform in conditions where the deck is constantly moving underfoot, and salt spray and Arctic cold are part of everyday operation. Let’s take a closer look inside one of these maritime workhorses and see how it is built.

The Primary Challenge: Motion and Salt-Laden Wind

The most obvious difference between an offshore crane and its land-based counterpart is the operating environment. Onshore, a crane is mounted on a rigid, stable foundation. At sea, everything changes. The vessel rolls with the waves, heels to one side, and may be exposed to severe storm conditions.

Engineers must design a system that remains fully operational under continuous list angles of up to 5°, while also withstanding extreme conditions when the vessel heels up to 15°. At the same time, wind speeds on deck can reach hurricane force. To perform reliably in such an environment, the crane must be not only robust but also intelligent — capable of adapting to external conditions and protecting itself from overload. The primary design objective is to ensure operational reliability and safety where the «ground» is never stable.

What it’s Made Of: Steel Structure and Power Elements

At the core of the crane is its steel structure. The primary components (column, housing, and boom) are fabricated from high-strength shipbuilding steel. This material is not only robust but specifically engineered to withstand continuous vibration and resist corrosion in harsh marine environments.

The crane features a modular design. The lower section, the column, is welded directly to the vessel’s deck. Inside the column is the hydraulic oil tank, effectively the crane’s circulatory system, with a capacity of 350 liters. Mounted on the column via a heavy-duty slewing system, the upper structure provides continuous 360° rotation. This is achieved despite the presence of multiple hydraulic lines and electrical cables routed through the system.

The crane housing is installed on top, with the boom hinged to the structure. Boom luffing is performed by a powerful hydraulic cylinder — a true «steel muscle» — allowing outreach variation from 1.5 to 9 meters. Lifting operations are handled by a winch equipped with a 57-meter steel wire rope and a hook block. The entire crane weighs over 5 tonnes, yet it is capable of lifting loads up to 3 tonnes, even under moderate sea conditions.

The «Blood» and «Heart»: Hydraulic System in Operation

Hydraulics form the primary power system of the crane. Pressurized oil (up to 28 MPa — approximately 280 times the pressure in a car tire) drives all motions. System pressure is generated by two hydraulic power units (main and standby), powered by the vessel’s 380 V electrical network, with total power consumption up to 39 kW.

Why hydraulics instead of purely electric drives? Hydraulic systems provide smooth and precise speed control. The operator can lower the hook at speeds of up to 30 m/min without load, or carefully handle heavy cargo at approximately 18 m/min, avoiding dynamic shocks. Additionally, the hydraulic system is inherently fail-safe. In the event of power loss or engine shutdown, control valves automatically block oil flow, holding the load securely suspended without risk of dropping.

The Nervous System: How the Crane Sees and Feels

The most sophisticated components of the crane are its «brain» and sensory organs. Operation is performed by a single operator using joystick controls. Control can be executed either from a fixed control station on the service platform or via a portable remote control unit, similar to a compact backpack. This allows the operator to move freely on deck and maintain direct visual control of the load.

The crane is designed to prevent unsafe operator actions. This is ensured by an array of integrated sensors forming a comprehensive safety system.

  • Inclination sensors monitor boom position and prevent it from exceeding safe limits.
  • Limit switches on the winch detect when the hook reaches its upper or lower end positions.
  • Temperature sensors monitor hydraulic oil conditions. If the oil temperature exceeds limits or drops below the operating range (−32°C to +30°C), the system inhibits startup to protect the pumps from damage.
  • The load cell in the hoisting mechanism acts as the primary weight controller. It prevents the crane from lifting loads exceeding 3 tonnes, and in sea states of 2-3, the Load Moment Limiter (LML) automatically reduces the safe working load (SWL) to 2.6 tonnes. If an overload is detected, the protection system activates, and further hoisting becomes impossible.

All system faults are displayed on the control panel as error codes. For example, code «001» indicates low oil level, while «005» signals that the hook has reached the upper limit.

Safety First: Emergency Scenarios

Engineers have also addressed emergency situations. The control panels feature large red «Emergency Stop» buttons that immediately de-energize the system. But what if the entire vessel loses power? For such cases, a manual hand pump is provided on the exterior of the column. By operating the pump lever, the operator can manually generate system pressure to safely lower the load or retract the boom into its stowed position.

The braking systems for both the slewing mechanism and the winch are redundant: if one fails, the second will hold the mechanism. This approach transforms a heavy machine into a predictable and reliable assistant that can be trusted even in harsh offshore conditions.

Dimensions

Marine Stiff Boom Crane Model 3TX9M Drawing

Technical specifications

ParameterValue
Safe Working Load (SWL) at Sea State 0, t3 t (at 9 m outreach)
Safe Working Load (SWL) at Sea State 2-3, t2.6 t (at 9 m outreach)
Boom outreach max., m≥9 m
Boom outreach min., m≤1.45 m
Boom luffing time, s≤30 s
Hoisting/lowering speed, m/min
– no load
– rated load

≥30 m/min
≥18 m/min
Slewing speed, rpm≥1 rpm
Slewing angle, °≥360°
Hook travel, m57 m
Crane weight (excl. oil and boom rest), kg5200 kg
Boom rest weight, kg55 kg
Slewing drive typeHydraulic
Power supply3-phase, 380 V, 50 Hz
Crane control– Local control station
– Remote control pendant with 10 m cable

Parameters (Operating Position):

Ambient temperature (at 60% relative humidity), max., °C+30°
Ambient temperature (at 85% relative humidity), min., °C-32°
Heel (either side), °up to 5°
Trim (bow or stern), °up to 2°
Sea state, max.3
Wind load, Pa≤400 Pa

Parameters (Stowed Position):

Heel (either side), °up to 15°
Trim (bow or stern), °up to 5°
Roll amplitude, max., °40°
Pitch amplitude, max., °10°
Wind load, Pa≤2000 Pa

3D Model

Completed projects

Marine Crane GMK 27-9

Marine Crane GMK 27-9

Electro-hydraulic Marine Crane with Single-Section Stiff Boom (GMK 27-9), SWL 3 t, Boom Outreach 9 m

General requirements and standards

  • All electrical equipment is rated: IP56 or higher (open deck) / IP44 or higher (indoors).
  • All materials are suitable for operation within the temperature range of –30 °C to +25 °C.
  • All equipment is provided with mating connections for system piping. All openings in the equipment are fitted with factory-installed protective plugs.
  • Identification plates, warning signs, labels, mimic diagrams, and similar markings are provided in the Russian language.
  • The crane column design allows for welding of bitts and maintenance platforms.
  • The electric drive is equipped with a soft-start or step-start device.
  • The paint scheme and color are to be agreed with the customer.
  • The hydraulic tank is equipped with an oil heating system.

Note:
If stiff boom crane is supplied with a barbette, the Hydraulic Power Unit (HPU) is installed inside the barbette. If stiff boom crane is supplied without a barbette, the Hydraulic Power Unit (HPU) is installed inside the vessel structure.

Regulatory compliance

The equipment complies with the following requirements:

  • General Regulations of the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS);
  • Technical Regulation on the Safety of Maritime Transport (Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 620 dated August 12, 2010);
  • SP 2.5.3650-20 (Sanitary and Epidemiological Requirements for Transport);
  • Other applicable requirements of Russian legislation, including sanitary and veterinary regulations, occupational health and safety requirements, and industrial safety requirements;
  • The equipment also complies with all amendments and supplements in force as of the vessel’s keel-laying date (Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 719);
  • Supervision of installation and commissioning services;
  • Confirmation of industrial product manufacturing within the territory of the Russian Federation (Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 719 dated July 17, 2015).